NATCHEZ — First Presbyterian Church has a new director of music ministries and youth development.

Darrell Day said he moved to Natchez from Palm Harbor, Florida, in late November to take the position at First Presbyterian Church.

For the past five years, Day said he has served as music director at First United Methodist Church in Hudson, Florida.

Along with his wife, Lisa, a registered nurse, Day said the couple has five grown children: Ryan, 25, Megan, 24, Tom, 23, Garrett, 21, and Nick, 18.

Now that the children are grown, Day said it was a great time for Lisa and him to move.

“I received calls from three other churches, and I interviewed at two of them,” Day said. “Lisa and I felt very welcome and invited in Natchez. We felt needed. We all want to be needed and need to be wanted. We felt like this is where we were called to be and hope to serve here for a long time.”

Day said he loves his new role because he gets to help the congregation worship.

“I get to lead them in music, reflection and everything in between,” Day said. “It is an exciting time of worship, engaging, reflective and meaningful.”

Day said he strives to make the worship music excellent to increase fellowship and membership and to grow the program.

Day said he also likes to help people achieve their musical goals, whether it is singing or playing an instrument.

Day has the background to help members achieve those musical goals as he holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Eastern Kentucky University and a master’s degree in music education from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Day also is a published composer of more than 300 works, including an opera titled “Lizzie Lloyd” and a couple of musicals.

Day said he has performed opera and musical theater in the United States and Europe.

Day said he is also excited about working with youth groups and mentoring youth leaders.

Outside of church, Day said he and Lisa have a business named Night and Day Properties in which they invest in properties and rehabilitate them. Day said he and Lisa also hope to open a retail business in downtown Natchez.

Immediately, however, Day has been reaching out to the community to form the Natchez Civic Chorale.

“In some respects, it is separate from the church and in some regards it is an outreach of the church,” Day said of the civic choral group he is forming.

Day said he has formed civic choral groups in every community he has served because he believes people love to sing, even if they are not the best singers.

Being a part of a large choral group, he said, allows singers of all levels to enjoy singing.

“This invitation is for anyone who loves singing,” Day said of the invitations he has been extending to people throughout the community. “This will be a non-auditioned choral group open to any and all who wish to sing in a larger, community-based vocal ensemble.”

Day said the Natchez Civic Chorale would begin rehearsing at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary, 400 N. State St.

“We will do a few minutes of warm up and look at several pieces,” Day said. “I am currently looking at doing “Experiencing God — The Musical” as our first big work … sometime in mid-to-late April.”

Day asks anyone interested in singing in the choir to email him at Darrell@fpcnatchez.org or to call him on his cellphone at 727-483-2835.